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Minutes 03-12-07 MINUTES OF THE GOLF COURSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON MONDEY, MARCH 12, 2007 AT 3:00 P.M. IN THE CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FL Present: Arthur L. Matthews, Jr., Chairman Lynda Frederick, Vice Chair Arthur Gabler James Smith Herb Suss Robert Kane, City Alternate Corrado P. Giangreco, City Alternate Ron Levy, County Alternate Dan Hager, Manager of Golf Operations Scott Wahlin, Manager of Golf Maintenance Absent: Kurt Bressner, City Manager, Non-voting Member Call to Order: Chair Matthews called the Special Meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Dan Hager, Manager of Golf Operations, thanked the members for coming. He clarified that the purpose for the meeting was to bring the Golf Advisory Committee up to date on the research and study being done on the 40-acre parcel and to gather input from them prior to the proposed testing. Mr. Hager explained the $100K received from the State was not enough to fund a survey of the entire area. By limiting the test area, the City intended to maximize the test results. Input from the board would assist the staff to identify appropriate boundaries for the parts of the golf course and 40 acres to be tested. Historically, the land in question was 150 acres owned by the County and given to the City in 1983. The County had been in need of golf courses, and a referendum gave the land to the City on a 99-year lease to build and operate a golf course. The City had a $4M revenue bond backed by the utilities tax that was paid off a year early in 2002. In order to prevent water from coming through debris and into the water system, the 40- acre landfill was capped with soil and a low-density liner in 1993. When the area was first developed, the architect designed a Family Course with an additional nine-hole Executive Course, which never really got off the ground. The latest 1 Meeting Minutes Golf Course Advisory Committee Boynton Beach, Florida March 12, 2007 suggestion was that the City could swap some land and enter into a venture with the County. Because a landfill was involved, the first step for this type of development would be a survey by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Considering the area, staff was confident the 40-acre landfill portion would not be designated for a housing development, since requirements for housing were stricter than for golf courses. Therefore, the 40-acre landfill portion could be excluded from the survey. Any area being considered for the development of houses needed to be surveyed. Access to the development area would have to be determined. Wilfred Hawkins, Assistant City Manager, had suggested there might be opportunity in the Northwest corner, a total of 8.39 acres, owned by a private developer, near a wooded area. Nurseries and farms were using much of the land to the north, so a road could be punched in from there to Hypoluxo Road. Angling north from the 40 acres, the land included lakes near number four on the Family Course. Mr. Suss asked for clarification, specifically near the golf course. Scott Wahlin, Manager of Golf Maintenance, clarified that anything done with that parcel would be worked out with the developer. On the large display map, he identified the areas being discussed. Development of the north 40-acres for housing would mean loosing greens 11, 12, 13, 15, half of 16, the green of 17 of the Champ Course, and a corner of the Executive Course, green number 3. He noted the entire course would be reworked. Also identified was an option for the development of eleven homes in the small black area designated on the northeast side. Mr. Kane cautioned that if access to the golf course was going to pass through that easement, it should be approved before the developer was signed. Access to the area could be a problem once the neighborhood was in existence. Mr. Wahlin confirmed that the Request for Proposal (RFP) to the developer would leave no stone unturned. The time line for proposals from developers would be after September, when the study from the FDEP would be finished, identifying possible land uses. Chair Matthews confirmed the Committee's input would be used to determine which part of the golf course would be surveyed and requested more detail on the survey. Mr. Wahlin explained his concern was the survey might come back indicating a phenomenal amount of costly work would be needed to develop the area. The herbicide used on the golf course, MSMA, was a commonly used, low key and stable herbicide listed as a non- carcinogen on the Materials Safety Data Sheet. The upcoming survey would identify what arsenic compounds were present, and the organic compound identified from MSMA should identify differently from inorganic arsenic, which was toxic. 2 Meeting Minutes Golf Course Advisory Committee Boynton Beach, Florida March 12, 2007 Mr. Wahlin had recently met with the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Protection representatives. Unfortunately, they would not be willing to differentiate between the organic and inorganic arsenic chemicals. One of the consultants working with Mr. Wahlin indicated these types of projects were being approved elsewhere, even with high levels of the organic form of arsenic in the soil, after treatment with iron sulfate to stabilize the soil. Mr. Wahlin confirmed that currently, iron sulfate was being injected into our irrigation system as fertilizer. In effect, the arsenic was already being stabilized in the areas being discussed for development. The landfill definitely had inorganic arsenic in it, since the timber placed in the landfill had been treated with arsenic. Also, hot wells had been found in the water under the landfill and under the street beyond the houses already in the area. Arsenic had even been found in the wells on the Family Course as a result of underground water movement to the northwest during the current drought. Monitoring would continue and the proper authorities had been informed. Mr. Hager noted the maintenance compound could also be hot. Years ago, workers may have washed off machinery in that area. The architect dealing with that area would have to keep the water coming off the landfill in the same direction and at the same speed. Planting trees in the area might be problematic. Mr. Gabler wanted to know if arsenic seepage could reach the back nine proposed housing area. If a portion of the Champ Course (brown field) was used, he was concerned about sinkholes, seepage or pOSSible player illness. Mr. Hager stressed that once the survey was completed, any problems found would be fixed. There were inexpensive ways to mitigate arsenic found in the soil. Additionally, deed restrictions could be utilized to prohibit digging. Chair Matthews confirmed that when the survey was completed, the documentation provided would identify what needed to be done in each specific area, including the brown fields for the rebuilding of the golf course. The survey information would then be passed on to any developer for the RFP. Mr. Wahlin responded that some spot checking of areas such as the maintenance compound might be done, but reminded everyone that the smaller the requested survey area, the more in depth the survey would be in the areas chosen and the higher the level of certainty regarding what could be safely developed there. Mr. Kane confirmed this redevelopment would mean net gain for the community, from the golfer's standpoint and for enhancement of people coming into Boynton Beach to play on the improved course. Mr. Suss added the City needed to maintain the base by providing a place to play while the development was being done. Mr. Hager recalled after the hurricanes, arrangements had been made with Atlantis (the semi-private 3 Meeting Minutes Golf Course Advisory Committee Boynton Beach, Florida March 12, 2007 course) and another course that accepted the Links club card for a special price. It was not the City's intent to give up even an inch of golf course. Mr. Hager related that right now, the City had 150 acres and 27 holes. The 18-hole championship course could be longer, but had its advantages. Rounds had continued to drop at a steady decline on the Family Course/Executive Course, mirroring a 4% average decline across the country. But the Championship Course was experiencing around 50,000 starts per year with about 29,000 on the Executive Course. There were days with 115 or 120 starts. He suggested if the City could create 27 holes and all three courses were championship, it would be a different ball game and more players could be accommodated. With the Family Course, even in the years when the new greens were added, a lot of people looked for rain checks for the second nine. He opined it would be excellent if the City ended up with an 18-hole golf course and no Family Course, maybe just two or three holes for practice and a bigger driving range. Mr. Giangreco expressed concern regarding a "treeless" golf course. Mr. Wahlin indicated not all the land was part of the landfill, so we should be able to plant trees. He would investigate. Additionally, a large bridge needed to be built to accommodate maintenance equipment. Once the area had been delineated, a golf course designer might be hired to take a look. A minimum of 120 acres was required to build an 18-hole golf course. With 150 acres available, the City would be in good shape. Part of the RFP would be what the developer anticipated as costs for the golf course. With the landfill involved, additional money would be needed. The board would want to be involved with the designer. Ms. Frederick asked where the clubhouse and practice facility would be. Mr. Wahlin indicated a par three, par four and par five with an increased driving range with tees on both ends, could be used as a practice course. He had also seen a 3-hole course set up with a variety of tees so you could use different ones each time. You could play the course more than once using different tees and it would be different every time. The driving range had to be near the 1st and 10th tee. Mr. Suss anticipated a major problem with residents in the area. Mr. Gabler indicated he felt they had reached a consensus regarding the two primary survey areas and, beyond that, decisions would be made later. He wanted to know what the potential downside would be. Obviously, pending improvements had been placed on hold. Additionally, there would be no golfing at the course for four to six months while the redesign was taking place. Mr. Hagar projected the course would be taken down in early April and would be reopened for play in early October. The grow-in took the longest time. 4 Meeting Minutes Golf Course Advisory Committee Boynton Beach, Florida March 12, 2007 Mr. Suss wanted to know if the certification with the National Audubon Society had any bearing and Mr. Hager suggested the course could become a signature course, a step up from where it was now. The course would have to be designed around the wildlife and drainage might have to be changed. Currently, there was one new signature course in Palm Beach Gardens. Chair Matthews announced the Committee, by consensus, offered its support and endorsed the survey of the designated areas as they had been identified. This would be the first step. Additionally, if the survey found anything hot and cleanup was required immediately, some of the funds might have to be spent for the cleanup. Other issues such as feasibility, access, or eminent domain would be dealt with as appropriate once the survey results were received. The meeting was adjourned at 3:54 p.m. ~.I I u.'(U-;\) Robin Hem~ U Recording Secretary 03-12-07 5